Here goes for the 439th time

I have mentioned I have been having trouble with this which is a shame because I have been having so much fun and have so much to tell you about the last few days and what is coming up next week. At this point I am hitting save every line so if the program closes, not everything I have written disappears. I thought things were going better last night until just that happened. I even went so far as to delete the program from my ipad. At this point I am working direct in Google Blogger, not in anything downloaded. So far so good. So, back to Tuesday and the crochet ladies. They brought me or finished here an assortment of hats. It was one time I really wished I understood more Spanish because Janet was mumbling and grumbling and they we're saying something about 50. So my guess is she isn't enjoying being 50 but you know I make things up. They tried really hard to explain things to me but it just wasn't happening. We did laugh a lot. I was well prepared with treats and they loved everything, but especially the cinnamon cream cheese roll ups. They couldn't get over the fact it was slices of bread. I had also made cream puffs and filled some with the cream filling I got at Mayca and some with a salmon mixture. The last thing was frosted cranberry bars. They asked when I would give them a cooking lesson. So, we are all set for a combination pajama party with cooking lesson and lots to drink starting at 6:00pm on Friday the 13th. I also said that if I taught them how to make these things, they must teach me how to make empanadas. Today when Otto came for my massage I asked him about coming that evening and giving the ladies massages and he said yes. We had said no hombres but I think they will be happy I invited this one. It will be a shortened version. Otherwise it would take half the night. I can't promise pictures but there will be a report - maybe censored a bit. I expect it to be lots of fun. We have sangria and margaritas and Bailey's and rum and brandy. Now I need to find something other than water glasses. We will turn the music up and probably do lots of laughing and dancing. Poor Otto! Yesterday was a really fun day. The weather has been beautiful the last couple days and Emilio and I haven't been on an adventure in a long time. He was busy with school and I was busy with Thanksgiving and Christmas. I left here at 10:15 and told the bus driver Mirador which is the Lookout. I had a little time to myself before he showed up and he had his friend, Francila, with him. I probably have her name wrong. I had him spell it for me but then I forgot. She is a student in English translation and also teaches English. He has been wanting us to meet so she can speak with someone who has English as their first language. Also, as slow as I talk it makes it easier for others to understand me. Mirador is a beautiful place just off the highway between here and Paraiso. Lots of grounds and areas to walk and picnic tables and wonderful views to Orosi and Cachi and the mountains. Otto explained today this is not part of the Central Valley connected to San Jose but the seperate Orosi Valley. We sat at a picnic table and I spread out the cloth I brought - in my red bag of course. I brought snacks also. Cranberry bars, chocolate balls that Heather brought and candy canes. Absolutely nothing healthy. When we decided it was time to head for lunch we decided on Cartago. We got to the road and here comes the bus so no wait. I said I would love to find the Mexican restaurant near the Basilica that Ziomara took me to so we got off at the Basilica stop, walked around the corner and about 10 steps and there it was. So easy for me to find now. Emilio ordered an appetizer that was crispy chips and tortillas cut in half. There were bowls of guacamole and refried beans and picadillo and hot cheese-very stringy. It was so good I could have just eaten that but I did have a chicken burrito and Emilio had beefsteak with onions and she had fish. It was all great and I know I will go back. We decided we needed to walk and headed for the yarn shop. Johanna has been very sick with dengue fever and this is the first time I have seen her in quite a while. I also greeted her mother next door and wished them Happy New Year. We kept walking, with stops for shopping, so I could show them the other yarn shop but they had moved a few blocks away. The new shop is larger but it was quite a mess as they aren't unpacked yet and aren't set up for credit card yet. Thank heavens I stopped at an ATM and had cash. Don't tell Heather. She already thinks I have bought all the yarn in the US. The ladies have been making hats to build up our supply. They will love to use what I bought for scarves. Speaking of hats, the one I made for Kathy is too small. Heather and I both tried it on before I sent it but no luck. She is sending it back to Heather and I will work on a new one while I am there. I may use a different pattern and get some measurements from her so I know what to do. So, we split up outside the yarn shop and we headed for the bus to Paraiso so I could get some butter. They had 2 so I was very happy. When we came out we met his mother and sister. He went to take his things home and change and I sat with them in the park. Once we got to Orosi I got off at the square so I could go to the pharmacy and bakery and fruit store. They didn't have any mangoes so I will have to check around. It was about 5:00 by the time I got home. A long, full day but a really enjoyable one. I can't wait to get a report later. Emilio was taking the bus this morning with some friends to Irazu Volcano and he planned on walking back. When I googled it I saw it takes 52 minutes by car and 6 hours and 50 minutes to walk. Now I don't know if that is going up or down. Anyway you look at it, it is a long, long way. That's about it for now. I hope I am not pushing my luck trying to attach pictures. I guess it was but I will figure a way.